Kingdombuilding: All My Inventions Are Novelty

”They’re fighting?”

Everyone in the castle exchanged glances. Just two days ago, Lancelot and Liam had seemed like kindred spirits, as close as brothers who had shared the same pair of pants in childhood.

Simon had been relieved to leave Liam in Lancelot’s hands, planning to settle the gunpowder matter before hosting a banquet to deepen ties with Liam.

Who would have thought they’d come to blows so quickly?

”That’s right, Your Highness. This morning, the soldiers egged them on, saying they wanted to see who was the better fighter between Captain Lancelot and Captain Liam. The two captains seemed eager to test each other, too, so they started sparring.”

”Isn’t it normal for soldiers to compete in the military?” Simon relaxed, thinking the soldier was overreacting.

”Your Highness, at first, it was fine. But then Captain Liam lost and claimed Captain Lancelot only won because of his superior armour, saying he lacked the dignity of a noble. And you know our Captain, he hates it when people bring up nobility or wealthy families. He immediately turned on Captain Liam, saying Liam only earned his military merits by riding on his father’s coattails and was all reputation without substance. Then they really started fighting.”

Hearing this, Simon was convinced.

No matter what, Liam was a noble from Eldora. Though he had disapproved of Simon’s past behaviour, he still carried some of the airs of a noble-born young master, and this was precisely what the locally born officers of the Brambleford army despised most.

At first, the two had bonded over their mutual renown, but once they spent time together, their differences became irreconcilable.

”Ah, they really know how to make trouble for me.”

Simon sighed and headed to the Brambleford army camp with Thomas and William.

He welcomed Liam’s arrival; it was, after all, General Lancet’s goodwill. He couldn’t afford to alienate the man.

Moreover, Liam was originally from the imperial guard. His presence here likely had Emperor Alaric’s tacit approval.

Simon’s feelings toward his nominal father were complicated. From this perspective, the emperor’s decision in court had truly been a last resort.

But if the two couldn’t reconcile, he’d have to side with Lancelot; he was, after all, Simon’s trusted officer. Of course, it would be best if he could mediate their conflict and win Liam over.

This was an opportunity to befriend General Lancet, a man of unparalleled prestige in the imperial guard.

---

At the Brambleford camp, Lancelot and Liam were locked in fierce combat, exchanging heavy blows. However, Liam seemed to be faring worse.

After another exchange, Liam staggered back three steps and spat. ”And I thought you were a real man! Relying on your armour to gain an advantage, how shameless!”

After fighting Lancelot for so long, Liam realised the man was like an iron barrel. Every hit Liam landed only hurt himself. Clenching his aching fists, he seethed with anger.

Lancelot grinned. ”Captain Liam, that’s where you’re wrong. On the battlefield, are you going to fight the reavers bare-assed? Ridiculous! Just this alone proves you’ve never faced true reaver elites. Those bastards are far more shameless than I; they never fight head-on. They’ll just shoot arrows at you, run when you chase them, and shoot again when you stop.”

”Nonsense! I’ve spilt as much Reaver blood as you!” Liam roared.

Lancelot was about to retort when he noticed Simon approaching. He immediately shut his mouth and pretended nothing had happened.

”What’s going on, you two? Two days apart, and this is how you greet each other?” Simon said, eyeing Liam’s bruised face.

Lancelot removed his helmet, revealing a shameless grin, and played the victim. ”My Lord, Captain Liam bullied me. He looks down on those of us from humble backgrounds.”

”Lies! All I said was that it’s dishonourable to duel me while wearing armour!” Liam argued.

”You did say it!” Lancelot bellowed.

Simon rubbed his temples. ”Gentlemen, you’re an army captain and an imperial guard captain. Brawling like street thugs in front of the soldiers, aren’t you afraid they’ll laugh at you?”

Only then did the two realise their surroundings. Many soldiers were stifling giggles.

Lancelot scowled. ”What are you looking at? Get back to training! Anyone who makes a mistake in formation will answer to me!”

The soldiers immediately resumed drills.

Simon said. ”This isn’t the place to talk. Come with me.”

Leading them to a small grove outside the camp, Simon addressed Liam. ”Liam, the Brambleford army doesn’t care about lineage. That’s why Captain Lancelot reacted so strongly. I hope you won’t take it to heart.”

Liam was a proud man. He hadn’t wanted to come to Brambleford in the first place, and now this conflict with Lancelot left him even more displeased. ”Your Highness needn’t explain. If the Qingzhou army doesn’t welcome me, I’ll return to Eldora.”

”We can’t afford to serve a noble like you anyway,” Lancelot muttered, looking skyward.

Simon glared at Lancelot. ”Enough. Everyone in Brambleford knows you’re a troublemaker, Lancelot. Laim may have been wrong, but you’re not blameless either. Keep this up, and forget about your custom plate armour.”

Lancelot panicked. He could live without anything else, but not his armour. He’d grown attached to it, especially the custom-fitted set that even arrows struggled to pierce.

A troublemaker but also a scoundrel at heart, Lancelot forced a smile. ”Captain Liam, my apologies. I was in the wrong. Next time, I’ll take off the armour, and we’ll spar properly.”

”Hmph! As if I’d spar with you again. Never!” Liam turned to leave.

Lancelot, who had only conceded for the sake of his armour, made no effort to stop him.

Simon called out. ”Liam, think about why General Lancet sent you to Brambleford. If you can’t endure a little hardship, you might as well return to Eldora and live a comfortable life as a captain under your father’s wing. Let the Brambleford officers look down on you as just another pampered noble because they’d be right. While they shed blood against the reavers, you chose to retreat.”

Liam froze mid-step.

Why had he come to Brambleford?

Wasn’t it for the dream of driving the reavers out of the Central Plains?

”A thousand-mile march, none return again.

If only the general were still here,

No reaver horse would cross the Mountains.”

Simon recited the poem softly, his voice swelling with passion, stirring Liam’s blood.

The poem’s solemn beauty seemed to linger in his heart. For centuries, the sons and daughters had faced foreign invasions with iron will and triumphed.

”Your Highness is a man of extraordinary literary talent. Now I see it for myself.”